Ball-tampering scandal: David Warner ‘not a bad person’, says Kane Williamson

Kane Williamson has been named as new skipper of the SRH for IPL 2018.

Kane Williamson and David Warner | IPL

New Zealand captain –Kane Williamson has thrown his support behind the suspended Australian Vice-captain –David Warner, saying he’s certainly made a mistake but “not a bad person by any means”.

Warner along with his skipper –Steve Smith banned for 12 months and Cameron Bancroft for nine months for their involvement in the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa. The trio had admitted their plan to tamper with the ball during the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town last weekend.

As per AP, Williamson said, “He’s not a bad person by any means. Through what’s eventuated in recent times, there’s been a lot of emotion and energy pointed at certain players which has gone to extreme lengths. It will blow over in time, but it’s grown and grown and, like I say, he’s not a bad guy. He’s made a mistake and certainly admitted that and they are disappointed with that action.”

Williamson further added on the same, “Both (Warner and Smith) will have to take the strong punishment and move on. You always learn from tough lessons and I’m sure they’ll do that. But it is a shame that two fantastic, world-class players have made a mistake.”

He signed off by saying, “For us, it’s about how we want to play the game, that’s important to us. It’s been part of our environment for some time and we want to maintain that. We believe it suits us as people and so we want to commit to that, play as hard and well as we can on the park, but at the end of the day, the game finishes and you’re still people. That’s what we like to try and hang our hat on.”

With David Warner suspended by Cricket Australia for a year, he will subsequently miss this year's IPL season with Sunnrisers Hyderabad, who won the title under him in 2016. The SRH management has announced Kane Williamson as their new skipper for the season

 

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 29 Mar, 2018

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